The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 15, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

The interesting theme and well-drawn protagonist of this first novel are both poorly served by its construction. Merry Moonbeam (``Beamer'') Flynn was the first child born into a since-dissolved commune in Northern Minnesota; she deeply resents the lack of privacy resulting from her parents' continuing warm relationships with the commune's other former members. During the winter Beamer turns 17, her bitterness spills over into her relationships with boys: reluctant to allow anyone to become close, she is attracted to a boy who's only using her, yet pushes away another whose affection is real. Unfortunately, the sharp psychological insights here are undercut by an awkward narrative that lacks immediacy, bungles transitions, and introduces potentially interesting subplots and characters only to dissipate them in the pervasive flatness. A disappointing first effort.~(Fiction. 14+)

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